Musical instrument



Nov. 6; 1928. 1,690,340

R. HOWARD MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 1924 gwve ntoz res PATENT orsice.

REUBIN HOWARD, oFi PARKDALE, OREGON.

iitUsIcAL INSTRUMENT.

it ation filed August 1', 1924. serial No. 729,545.

This invention relates is musical instru ments and more particularly to stringed -in" The object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the banjo type practically combining three instruments in one constructed so as to have the richness and lasting tone of the guitar, the volume and sound of a piano, and which may be made to sound like a banjo or mandolin.

Another object is to construct an instrument of this character to resist dampness and to adapt it to be readily cleaned.

Another object is to provide an instrument of this character having a plurality of sound apertures accurately sized and ar ranged to insure richness of tone.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter des-ribcd and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the instrument embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the bridge and support used in connection therewith.

In the embodiment illustrated, the instrument constituting this invention is made in the form of a banjo comprising a calf skin head 1 varnished on both faces and a metal rim 2 of a size smaller than the skin head and provided in the perimeter thereof with a plurality of vibration or sound openings 3 which are accurately sized and arranged to provide richness of tone. The head 1 and rim 2 are secured together by the ordinary clamps or brackets 4 such as are used in instruments of this character particularl in the banjo and both are varnished whic adapts them to resist dampness and provides for their being wiped off and kept clean. A wooden ring 5 is arranged inside the rim 2 and a metal straining hoop 6 is arranged on the outside. A metal tail piece 7 secures the strings 10 at their rear ends and a steel bridge 8 supports the strings in the usual manner (see Figs. 1 and 2). A supand as shown in Fig.

port 'is used in connection with bridge 8 4 has ashort leg 21 and a long leg 22 equipped with flat feet 23 similar to the feet of the bridge 8. This support extends under and supports the bridge 8, increases the sound and softens the tone and when the end having the long leg is placed under any harsh string it regulates it in unison with the others.

This instrument has five strings of a size larger than the regular banjo strings. The fifth string numbered 11 is of the same length as the fifth string on a banjo, the other four being shorter than the banjo strings. The neck 9 of this instrument is shortened at the top and is equipped with the usual frets 12 arranged in longitudinally spaced relation on the outer or front face thereof, constituting the finger board of the instrument. Arranged on the finger board at its junction with the tuning peg carrying outer portion 13 is a steel nut or rib 9 which supports the strings and prevents them from touching the finger board and frets until they are pressed down by the fingers.

A plurality of characters are. shown at 14 on the linger board and the portion 13 which are designed to indicate the positions for pla \"ing. The fifth string 11 passes through an opening 15 in the neck near its outer end, which is equipped at this point. with an eye. This string after passing through the neck or finger board and extending outwardly underneath the linger board passes up through an opening at the outer end of the tuning peg head as shown at 16. It will be observed that his fifth string passes through the neck adjacent the t.:ird fret l2 and after again passing to the upper face of the peg head is wound around a screw 17 which is actuated by a tuning peg 18. The other strings are equipped in the same manner with pegs shown at 19.

The strings of this instrun'ient may be so tuned as to adapt it to be played as a banjo by either chords or note and when played in chords it has a wonderful rirh lasting tone especially adapted as an accompaniment for vocal music. hen played like the banjo by note, the effect is that of the banjo. This instrument may also be tuned and played with a mandolin pick and has then the rich effect of the mandolin.

It will then be seen that this instrument practically embodies three instruments in one, the'sthridaid Side 'of the h'ehd' beingke n and one-half inches in diameter and the concert twelve inches.

I claim In a stringed musical instrument, a head, strings stretched over the head, a b'ii'dg'ein eluding end portions having inturned ex,- tremities resting on the'hei id, imp-part for the bridge, said support havingdownwardly extexidedgndportions formed with inturned exti e'friities resting..pn the head, one of the dow'nw'ardlyextended end portions of th support being shorter than the opposite end portion thereoi', so that the upper part of the siippoit"iw111 be mclzneG, said support engaging under the bridge to tighten the striligsfiii'd insure it solid bridge, and change the tone of the instrul ient.

Iii testi'nibn'j, "thzit"I' claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto afiixed my signa- 20 ture. 

